CHENNAI: A non-governmental organization working for the welfare of children who suffered sexual abuse, Tulir Charitable Trust, has moved the Madras High Court with a plea to issue directions to the concerned authorities to take effective steps to identify, remove and disable access to the video recording of the child sexual exploitation and abuse material (CSEAM) in connection with the sexual assault on minor children by noted industrialist and proprietor of Gem Granites Veeramani.
The court will hear the petition today.
The petition, filed by the managing trustee Vidya Reddy, seeks to remove all extracts, screenshots, clips and derivatives thereof, including from the platform/accounts of India Today, Republic TV, Sathyam TV and John Doe (all other unknown persons, news channels and social media platforms).
It said on September 24, coinciding with the hearing of the bail applications of the co-accused persons, the impugned CSEAM footage was reportedly accessed and disseminated by India Today and Republic TV along with ‘particulars capable of identifying the victims’.
“The circulation of such material outside the investigative process raises serious concerns regarding the custody and confidentiality of highly sensitive evidence and poses an immediate and continuing threat to the privacy, dignity and safety of the victims,” the petition stated.
Stating that a representation was sent to the respondents on September 24 in this regard for appropriate action, the petitioner sought urgent intervention of the court to issue directions to the respondent authorities including the Police and the Union Ministry of Electronics and Information Technology to take effective steps to identify, remove and disable access to the video recording of CSEAM and extracts, screenshots and clips from the digital platforms.
It also sought directions to prevent any further publication, broadcasting, uploading, sharing and circulation of these materials and preserve and secure all relevant electronic evidence and source/chain-of-custody information and ensure no particulars capable of directly or indirectly identifying the victims are published or disclosed.
Request for CBI Probe
Meanwhile, senior counsel NL Rajah made an urgent mention before the first bench of Chief Justic Sushrut Arvind Dharmadhikari and Justice G Arul Murugan on the child sexual assault case and sought directions to a CBI probe.
He prayed for the court to hear the matter in an urgent manner and informed that objectionable videos the victims have been telecast by certain television channels in utter disregard to the provisions of the POCSO Act.
The bench said it will take up the petition if it is filed and completed the formalities of numbering.
